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Tensions are boiling between CPUT and its staff.
shraf Hendricks, GroundUp, file
- Tensions continue to boil between CPUT, students and workers.
- A union has proposed a strike that will close the university.
- The Higher Education and Training Portfolio Committee has several concerns.
A meeting of the Portfolio Committee on Higher Education and Training did little to dissipate latent tensions between the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT), students and workers.
CPUT was called to Thursday’s meeting after failing to appear before the committee last week.
Committee chair Philly Mapulane said he was “quite infuriated” by this.
CPUT had to respond to concerns raised by the Council of Student Representatives and unions in an earlier meeting.
CPUT Council Chairman, defender Zuko Mapoma, apologized and said the university needed more time to prepare its presentation.
“We apologize if we seem arrogant,” he said.
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Student and worker representatives said nothing had changed in relations between them and the university since the committee meeting earlier in the year.
A representative of the National Union of Insourced Workers said the union had requested a legal strike.
“This year, we are going to stop everything at CPUT.”
Mapoma presented a briefing to the committee, saying that student and worker issues have been addressed.
“Our intention, at all material times, is to do what we can in the interest of the university. We do not pretend to be perfect,” he added.
“I still don’t understand,” Mapulane said. “Why are stakeholders still unhappy if everything is so optimistic?”
In a statement issued after the meeting, the committee expressed concern about the “outcry from the student representative council that the policy and processes the university employs to discipline students, particularly student leaders, appear to be unfair and unfair. addressed to student leaders. ” to dissuade them from being critical of the university’s leadership. “
Justice
He asked the college board to immediately review this policy to make sure it provided fairness in the process.
“It is important that the policy is reviewed so that it is not only fair and justifiable, but that those on the receiving end of the policy consider it fair,” Mapulane said.
The committee is also concerned about complaints about the status of the CPUT from both students and workers, while the council and management paint an optimistic picture of the institution.
The committee asked the board and management to address the stakeholder relationship in a comprehensive and genuine manner that produces results that ensure that all issues can be aired in a manner that leads to the success of the institution.
The committee asked the CPUT to provide a detailed report on the expulsion of two union presidents.
The committee asked the CPUT to provide an expense report for all of these employment issues and the disciplinary case process for the last two financial years.
